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Vanderbilt Football: Can Ke’Shawn Vaughn lead Commodores to bowl?

By John Scimeca

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 27: Ke'Shawn Vaughn #5 of the Vanderbilt Commodores runs the ball and stiff arms Kamren Curl #2 of the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second half at Razorback Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Commodores defeated the Razorbacks 45-31. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 27: Ke'Shawn Vaughn #5 of the Vanderbilt Commodores runs the ball and stiff arms Kamren Curl #2 of the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second half at Razorback Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Commodores defeated the Razorbacks 45-31. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 13: Head coach Derek Mason of the Vanderbilt Commodores tries to corral his team back to the sideline during a scrum against the Florida Gators during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 13: Head coach Derek Mason of the Vanderbilt Commodores tries to corral his team back to the sideline during a scrum against the Florida Gators during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

How will Commodores fare in 2019?

  • Week 1: vs. Georgia (Aug. 31)
  • Week 2: at Purdue (Sept. 7)
  • Week 3: BYE
  • Week 4: vs. LSU (Sept. 21)
  • Week 5: vs. Northern Illinois (Sept. 28)
  • Week 6: at Ole Miss (Oct. 5)
  • Week 7: vs. UNLV (Oct. 12)
  • Week 8: vs. Missouri (Oct. 19)
  • Week 9: BYE
  • Week 10: at South Carolina (Nov. 2)
  • Week 11: at Florida (Nov. 9)
  • Week 12: vs. Kentucky (Nov. 16)
  • Week 13: vs. East Tennessee State (Nov. 23)
  • Week 14: at Tennessee (Nov. 30)

The start of the season is brutal, as Vanderbilt will be hosting the 2018 SEC East Division winners Georgia Bulldogs in the opener. After hosting LSU in Week 4, though, the lineup softens.

The next four games will either favor the ‘Dores or provide a winnable matchup, setting up a make-or-break November run that includes South Carolina, Florida, and Kentucky in consecutive weeks. These three teams all defeated Vanderbilt last year.

Prediction: 7-5 (3-5 SEC)

A couple key stars from 2018 will be tough to replace, but Mason has shown that he can scrape together respectable results for a program that’s often been overlooked and unappreciated in the SEC. In the past three seasons, Vandy has won 17 games — the most in any three-year stretch since the 1970s.

Top 30 skill position players for 2019. dark. Next

Look for Shurmur’s replacement to ignite a talented offensive cast and expect the newcomers to step up in a big way en route to a surprise victory in the East Division and Derek Mason’s first winning record as the Commodores’ head coach.

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